A 51-year-old man, Moses Idowu, on Thursday appeared before a Badagry Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, for allegedly aiding escape of two suspects he stood surety for.
Idowu is facing a two-count charge of aiding suspects’ escape from custody and failure to produce suspects. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Mr Ayodele Adeosun, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Jan. 23, at Area K, Police Command in Morogbo, Lagos State.
Adeosun said that the defendant agreed to produce the suspects, Oluwatoyin Idowu and Leke Idowu, for investigations when needed.
He said that the defendant entered into a bond of N500,000 for each of the suspects in a case of breaking-in and malicious damage, but failed to produce them.
“The defendant aided the escape of the two suspects from lawful custody of police.
“He should give the court reasons he should not forfit the bond or go to jail,” the prosecuctor said. He said that the offences contravened Sections 97 and 107 of Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Hotepo Lazarus, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Lazarus ordered that the sureties must own landed property within the court’s jurisdiction and have evidence of three years’ payment of land use charge. He adjourned the case until March 31 for mention.
